China's absent VP sparks rumors

Speculation is rife regarding the whereabouts of China's Vice President, Xi Jinping, who has not been seen for more than a week.

The country’s leader-in-waiting canceled a meeting with the visiting Danish Prime Pinister Helle Thorning-Schmidt on Monday.

Xi has already missed three scheduled appointments this week, including a Communist party meeting on Friday. Prior to that, he called off a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday.

Rumors have emerged on news sites and Twitter ranging from Xi's possible involvement in a car accident to a power struggle.

Attempts to search his name on Chinese micro-blogging sites have been blocked.

Xi is due to take over from current Chinese President Hu Jintao at the five-yearly party congress next month.

However, the dates of the meeting are yet to be announced, spurring speculation that some of the seats on the nine-member politburo Standing Committee have still not been allocated.